Living Cost Compare
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,690 in Meridian, ID versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 57% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$1,523
$836
+45% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,540
$770
+50% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,489
$969
+35% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,893
$1,038
+45% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$485,000
$238,200
+51% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$98,686
$42,245
+57% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$47,350
+4% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
24.0 yr
+13.4 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
76.1%
44.3%
+31.8 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.4%
58.1%
+13.7 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
22.3 min
17.3 min
+5.0 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
150.3
216.3
+44% in Morgantown, WV
Property Crime
583.5
1,976.4
+239% in Morgantown, WV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
53.0°F
+0.5°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
41.8 in
+30.1 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Meridian, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
15.4
+8% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$24.68
+118% in Morgantown, WV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Meridian, ID
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Meridian, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Morgantown, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Meridian, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Meridian, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Meridian, ID

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / WV)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
4.82%
+0.5 pp in ID

Meridian vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Morgantown?
Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).